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I'm really confused.  I thought I saw (on a Food Network program) that Tom Carvel (of Carvel ice cream cake fame) invented the first soft serve ice cream in 1939. 

As a responsible journalist, I decided to check my facts before posting this information.  I was surprised to find other sources on the internet that state the McCullough father and son team actually invented soft ice cream in 1938. 

So who was it?  What's the correct answer?  Can anyone shed some light on this frigid topic? 

And while I think about ice cream and the summertime memories it evokes ...I would be remiss if I did not mention that Vermont Shortbread is a lovely partner to ice cream AND summer.  Summer is typically a slow time in shortbread land.  A few years ago, I decided to change that by inventing shorties for the popular wedding favor market. I recognized that many weddings happen in summer months and that marketing in this sector could help me create more consistent sales year round.  It worked.  Our Shortbrides (i.e., brides who choose shortbread for wedding favors or in lieu of wedding cake) often tell us that sampling our shortbread was their favorite part of their wedding preparation! 

I never thought much about shortbread and ice cream together until a customer told me that's how he liked his shortbread.  Then my foodie imagination wheels began to spin out of control with ideas for pairing these two treats:

• How about traditional shortbread (plain) warmed up in the microwave for a few seconds with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream (squirted as per Dina's instructions in a previous post)?

• It seems to me that our walnut cinnamon shortbread would go nicely with a maple-flavored ice cream.

• What about a lemon curd filled shortie with fresh blueberries and ice cream? 

• How about chocolate filled shortbread with chocolate ice cream (for the diehard chocoholic in your life)?

• What about an ice cream sandwich made with shortbread? 

In closing, I make two requests:

1. Consider stocking up on Vermont Shortbread this summer to enjoy with ice cream and all the sweet, fresh fruits of summer.

2. Will someone PUHLEEEEEEZE set me straight on the origins of soft ice cream?  Inquiring minds can't sleep until they have the correct data! 

Ann Zuccardy, Friend to Beautiful Shortbrides and Groovy Shortbread Heads (aka Shortheads) Worldwide

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